Popular Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi to sell its flagship Mi-3 on leading messaging app WeChat

Two wildly-popular Chinese firms announced that they have teamed up today — rising smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi and messaging service WeChat, which, with over 270 million active users worldwide, is only second to WhatsApp.

Considering the popularity of both Xiaomi and WeChat, the sales process will definitely be one to watch — as it’s likely the devices will sell out quickly.

The entire process — from reserving the device to purchasing it — will take place within the messaging app. Given that Xiaomi’s devices have sold out at lightning speed, it’s probably a good a time as any to test if WeChat’s payment system, which it incorporated in August in a bid to monetize its service, can handle large-scale demand — which would add credibility to WeChat’s ambition to be a payment platform as well.